The black cherry and blackberry flavors are pure, with a pleasant bitter element that keeps this red focused. Firm finish. Drink now. 830 cases made, 300 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Dolcetto d'Alba Select to Add

The 2011 Dolcetto d’Alba Trifolera is an attractive wine with a little more fleshiness than is often the case. Varietal notes resonate through the mid-palate and finish in this juicy, expressive Dolcetto. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. Piercarlo Cortese describes 2009 as a very consistent year. The 2009 harvest started at the end of September, slightly ahead of normal, and finished on October 15. The Cortese Barbareschi undergo malolactic fermentation in steel and are aged exclusively in cask. Cortese has recently expanded their holdings with a new lease in Rabaja, which will bump production up slightly in coming years. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2010 Dolcetto d’Alba Trifolera is a gorgeous wine layered with fragrant varietal fruit. It comes across as fairly restrained. Licorice, tobacco and game add complexity to the bright, lively finish. This is textbook Dolcetto. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. This is an impressive set of wines from Cortese. It’s impossible not to admire these genuine, sincere wines and their equally unpretentious prices. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

Cortese’s 2009 Dolcetto d’Alba Trifolera is beautifully ripe and seductive in this vintage. Layers of dark fruit come together nicely in a textured, opulent wine of notable harmony and finesse. The Dolcetto can sometimes be a touch rustic here, but not in 2009. This is a winner from Cortese. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

Dolcetto Trifolera opens with round and generous berry flavors of cherry, blueberry and blackberry backed by a thick, rich but one-dimensional mouthfeel. This is an plump, easy wine to pair with roast beef or meatloaf. ——M.L.(9/1/2011)—— 87